Being queer wasn’t easy in the 1980s and the 1990s, points out activist Arif Jafar in the latest episode of the podcast series Pride and Prejudice, hosted by reporter Suryatapa Mukherjee. Throughout the 30 minutes of the episode, Jafar and Mukherjee talk about the prejudices that existed over the years and how queer communities have had to adapt to their surroundings. Coming out back in the day, as Jafar points out, was an invitation for trouble, but it gave many the courage to speak their truth, at least to their families. The episode also serves as a kind of tribute to Jafar’s friend, historian and queer rights activist Saleem Kidwai, through stories of Kidwai’s significance to the queer community at the time, and the importance of queer Muslim activists. This episode was our first taste of the series, which immediately drew us in and hooked us till the end.

In the latest episode of the series, activist Arif Jafar talks about the late queer rights activist and historian Saleem Kidwai. Pic/Wikimedia Commons